Sautéed Mushrooms are a quick and easy way to elevate just about any dish. Whether you prefer them whole or sliced, a pan full of these juicy, buttery, golden brown mushrooms will steal the spotlight as a side dish, appetizer, or incorporated into a main dish recipe such as Pan-Seared Steak, pasta, or a Juicy Burger.

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Sautéed Mushrooms Recipe
Mushrooms are perfect for everyday simplicity – loaded onto a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, served over Pork Chops with a mound of mashed potatoes and Mushroom Gravy. These versatile beauties are robust enough to shine as a stand-alone side dish or sautéed whole, as an appetizer for a holiday meal. They’re so delicious, with an earthy, savory flavor sealed in by the buttery, garlic and herb coating.
If you love mushrooms, you are going to be so glad you found this recipe. I’m so happy that my children now love mushrooms, though that wasn’t always the case! If your family is picky about mushrooms, give them another chance with these delicious sauteed mushrooms. My kids now eagerly sneak them right from the pan with a fork. Since mushrooms are so nutritious and healthy (more on that below), we regularly include this dish in our meals.

Ingredients
The key to making the best sautéed mushrooms is to choose the best mushroom variety (see our suggestions below).
- Mushrooms – 1 1/2 lbs. (24 ounces), rinsed, dried, and thickly sliced. You can also sautee them whole (see instructions below).
- Butter and Oil – I like to sauté in both unsalted butter and light olive oil, providing both flavor and a higher smoke point. This prevents the butter from burning while still giving its rich flavor.
- Garlic – Minced
- Garlic Salt and Pepper – For seasoning. If you don’t have garlic salt on hand, you can substitute with equal parts of salt and garlic powder, or substitute with salt and season to taste.
- Lemon Juice – Adds acidity and vibrant flavor but you could substitute with red or white wine for a different flavor profile.
- Fresh Herbs – Finely chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, or sage.

Can I Substitute the Lemon Juice?
The easiest way to change the flavor profile of these mushrooms and keep them interesting is to substitute the lemon juice with any of these options:
- Worcestershire sauce
- Teriyaki sauce
- Soy sauce
- Red or white wine
- Balsamic vinegar
What are the Best Mushrooms to Sauté?
You can use any grocery store or farmer’s market mushrooms, but my favorites include:
- Cremini Mushrooms – Young portobellos, also known as Brown or Baby Bella mushrooms
- Portobello Mushrooms – Large and meaty, they can also be used as a meat substitute for vegetarians due to their meaty texture.
- Shiitake Mushrooms – Have a savory, umami-rich taste that adds depth to sautéed dishes (remove stems completely).
While white button mushrooms work great for sauteeing, I prefer brown mushrooms because of their rich flavor. You can use pre-cut, but if you buy them whole you can cut them to your desired thickness.
How to Clean Mushrooms
According to the FDA, you should rinse all produce before consuming. Quickly rinse the mushrooms in a collander under running water being careful not to soak them. Quickly pat dry with a paper towel.
Some worry that the mushrooms will absorb too much water while washing. It’s perfectly ok to rinse and pat mushrooms dry when sautéing, the excess moisture will be released while cooking. The only time you really shouldn’t is when making Stuffed Mushrooms and in that case, just wipe them with damp paper towels.

Pro Tip:
Salt will draw out the mushrooms’ liquid and cause them to steam cook instead of sauté. Season the mushrooms towards the end of cooking to prevent them from releasing too much moisture early on.
How to Sauté Mushrooms
- Clean – Rinse and pat dry mushrooms with paper towels then thickly slice.
- Sauté – Set a large heavy, non-reactive pan over medium-high heat. Add butter and olive oil and swirl as it melts to reduce splatter. Once the oil is hot, add mushrooms and sauté until the liquid is released and evaporated and the mushrooms are slightly browned, 5-7 minutes (See instructions below to sautee whole mushrooms).
- Season– Season with garlic salt and pepper, and add minced garlic. Stir for 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
- Garnish – Add lemon juice and parsley and sauté another 1-2 minutes, adding more seasoning to taste then remove from heat and serve garnished with more parsley if desired.

How to Sauté Whole Mushrooms
Cut the stems flush with the base so that they will sit flat in the skillet. Sauté for 5 minutes per side or until browned on both sides, then season and dress per the recipe. Sautéed whole mushrooms make a delicious appetizer or side dish.

Pro Tip:
Your pan will look full to start but the mushrooms will release excess water and shrink down as they cook. To avoid soggy sautéed mushrooms, use a large skillet to avoid overcrowding, and cook until the liquid evaporates (or pour out the excess) letting those mushrooms get beautifully browned.

Are Mushrooms Good for You?
Mushrooms have many health benefits so it’s a good idea to include mushrooms in a balanced diet. According to UCLA Health mushrooms may:
- Lower the risk of cancer
- Help lower cholesterol
- Protect brain health
- Improve gut health since mushrooms are considered prebiotics
Make-Ahead
- To Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Sauteed mushrooms are freezer-friendly. Allow the cooked mushrooms to cool completely and then spread them onto a baking sheet. Flash freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container.
- To Reheat: If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight. Gently warm in a pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Whether these golden-brown Sautéed Mushrooms grace your plate as a savory side or steal the spotlight over Cooked White Rice, Baked Chicken Breast, or Grilled Steak, you are going to love how they effortlessly elevate every dish.
More Mushroom Recipes
If you love these Sautéed Mushrooms, then you won’t want to miss these other incredible mushroom recipes:
- Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce
- Marinated Mushrooms
- Mushroom Marinara
- Chicken Marsala
- Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
- Chicken Stir Fry
Sautéed Mushrooms Recipe

Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp light olive oil
- 1 1/2 lbs 24 oz baby bella (cremini) mushrooms
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt, to taste (or use salt and garlic powder)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice form 1 small or 1/2 large lemon
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry mushrooms with paper towels then thickly slice.
- Set a large heavy, non-reactive pan over medium-high heat. Add butter and olive oil and swirl as it melts to reduce splatter. Once the oil is hot, add mushrooms and sauté until the liquid is released and evaporated and mushrooms are slightly browned, 5-7 minutes.
- Season with garlic salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Stir for 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add lemon juice and parsley and sauté another 1-2 minutes, adding more seasoning to taste. Then remove from heat, garnish with more parsley (if desired), and serve.
We tried this recipe and absolutely loved what the lemon flavor did to the mushrooms. Awesome! Company quality.
Hi Cindy! I’m so happy to hear it was enjoyed.
If you are a truffle fan, add a half tsp of Black Truffle Oil to the olive oil. The working man’s truffles; great with steak.
Very tasty recipe, we served it over noodles! My Aunt always added sliced green bell peppers to the Sauté. Makes a very good side dish!! For steaks.
Hi Judith! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe.
I make these mushrooms all the time! Super easy, healthy, delicious and they go with anything!
They sure make a great side to many dishes!
This is a great side for any steak or pork chop recipe! It’s bursting with flavors and super savory!
Thanks for your awesome feedback!
Made these tonight to go alongside some ribeyes and they turned out perfect. Love this recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Krissy! That sounds like a lovely and delicious dinner!
see, this is why you are my favorite you always have the best recipes,thank you
Aw, thank you, Mike!
I always add mushrooms to a dry pan and let them reabsorb their juices then add the butter etc. Gives a much better mushroom flavor.
Delicious! Made them with spaghetti and Italian sautéed spinach, but i could eat them by themselves. 👌
We’re so glad that you loved it!
I have been making mushrooms for many years, they were ok but not great. Something was missing. I made these last night and they were perfect! I never used the lemon juice before, but I guess that is what was missing! I will make them again soon. Thank you!
Hi Alyce! I’m so glad you loved the recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Soooooooo delicious. Taste tested a mushroom, and then another, and then another. Could have eaten the whole pan! Grilled some burgers, melted Swiss cheese, and then topped with these mushrooms and taste is perfection. Thanks for recipe!
Yum! Sounds delicious. You’re very welcome! Thank you for a wonderful review.
Bought a carton of Baby Bella Mushrooms at Costco. Followed your recipe to the letter and we were delighted with the results. Had a lovely baguette of French bread that we toasted to be the delivery system for the “shrooms”. A very lovely Pinot Noir paired nicely with the dish. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
Hi Ray and Susan, thanks for sharing your experience trying out this recipe. Good to know that you enjoyed it!
These are really good! I added a pinch of toasted sesame seeds just before serving. Thanks for another good one, Natasha!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Sharon!
My husband is not a mushroom kind of guy; but after eating these mushrooms, he said they are the best he’s ever had!
That’s great, Maria! Thank you for the review.
Just made the recipe tonight and the mushrooms were a delicious side to grilled steak and baked potatoes.
Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome! I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try from my website.
What are your recommendations for storing leftovers? These are a lot of mushrooms for 1 person, but I do have a 24 ounce package to prepare! Thanks!
Hi Amy, I always refrigerate leftovers and reheat them when I’m ready. They do reheat really well on a skillet.
I’ve made this recipe a few times now, so delicious. Great add-on to a dinner, as a side dish, or to just to make to snack on. Highly recommend.
Hi Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to sharing your comments and feedback with us. Glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious!! The lemon juice was a game changer!! Perfect recipe.
Yummy! It really is delicious! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
To take mushrooms to the next level, add 1/2 to 1 tsp of Black Truffle oil to the mix depending on the quantity of mushrooms. Creates a whole new level of culinary delight.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I tried this recipe using sliced mushrooms and fresh garlic. Delicious!
Yum! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.